Up to £150k - not a potential headache. R8?

[AB]

I'm going round in circles looking at my 40th birthday present. My current 'fun' car is a 2016 911 Turbo S Cab, but I want to change and I want something a little bit more exciting and 'wow'.

So with say £150k ish as a budget, I've been looking at the following types...

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17149022 - 488 Spider
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17469447 - 720S Spider
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17026293 - Huracan Spider (I'd want an Evo so maybe budget creep)

However, here's the thing, I'd want to use it for more than just occasional use and I don't want to be chucking money at them for servicing, faults etc if I do 10k miles a year (depreciation is a given) and I don't want it being a bit temperamental on certain days, letting me down etc so I started looking at the R8.

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17485884

This saves me money on the purchase, gets me a warranty and I'd expect a bit more stress free usage than any of the above? I'm guessing depreciation will be a lot higher.

Will I regret going for just an Audi? I love the look of them, always have, they sound great, more performance than anyone really needs and I have nothing against Audi (I have a Q7).

Then other thoughts creep in;

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/16418051 - Urus? More sensible and practical but still a decent gift to myself.

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17233959 - GTC? Comfortable to use all the time, but more practicality, am I too young?

Any thoughts, ideas, out of the box suggestions etc welcome.

[Summit_Detailing]

I'd not even consider the Urus or CGT personally.

I've never enjoyed driving a Huracan, always feel a little squashed/claustrophobic and find the seats uncomfortable.

Can't argue with the 720S, 488 or R8.

Some others to consider -
F12
DBS
600LT
AMG GT R

Cheers,

Chris

[AB]

Thanks Chris, there's something about the GTR that I'm not keen on, never driven one so may be totally unfounded.

I like the F12 but going down that route I'd want a convertible.

DBS worth looking at, have a bit of experience in a DB9 GT and I was never really wowed. Again, never driven a DBS.

[samoht]

Early Aventadors are in budget, arguably the most 'wow' for the cash?

ETA: if looking at the R8, worth considering the new Corvette as a similar combo of mass-produced reliability and usability with rarity and drama.

Also, I don't know how practical it is but it has an Audi engine, the Donkervoort D8 GTO looks pretty wow and is in budget.

Edited by samoht on Tuesday 15th October 19:21

[AB]

Aventador is one car I'd not be looking at to do 10k a year in and drive to the office etc but something I'd look at if it was purely something to keep in the garage and use on special occasions.

Corvette, absolutely forgot to mention them, hired one in January in America and loved it, definite stand out wow factor, especially over here, thanks for reminding me.

Donkervoort, I never knew existed but in the same boat as the Aventador!

[AB]

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/16110853

Certainly has something about it.

[Smooth Smith]

If it was me, I don’t think I’d want to be spending £135k ish on an R8. I do like them and would probably have one if I could fit in them comfortably but there are so many other options around for that budget. I would be trying to narrow it down from the following:-

600LT
F12
488
992 GT3
991.2 GT3 RS

600LT and the RS might be a little too hardcore for the road if doing 10k per year as it would almost be a daily.

Nice problem to have.

[paddy1970]

The R8 is not particularly reliable, especially if you are covering 10,000 miles per year—it will experience significantly more breakdowns compared to an A4, for instance. Additionally, there is the "R8 tax," where similar parts cost 2, 3, or even 10 times more than they would for a standard Audi. You will also have to contend with Audi dealerships, which have a less-than-stellar reputation. When you take your car in for servicing, you might find yourself in an A1 as a courtesy car, and it is not uncommon for staff to take your R8 for a joyride.

[interstellar]

That corvette is lovely. I had no idea they did rhd cars here.

[Lincsls1]

The blue 488 Spider is stunning. That's my choice.

[AB]

Lincsls1 said:

The blue 488 Spider is stunning. That's my choice.

I think that's where my heart is tbh.

[ZX10R NIN]

Leftfield

NSX, these are a very good car & imo well worth a test drive:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409134...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408223...

Stingray again a very good car well under budget & something very different. They're also a targa so you can get the convertible feel on the right day.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312084...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307029...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409204...

The DBS is a relentless thing very special & again worth a test drive:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407021...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409053...

SLS convertible:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407151...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405129...

720S:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409254...

Rather than the R8 go for the Huracan it's more of an event:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405069...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409113...

F12:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408072...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408203...

[Smooth Smith]

Corvette just doesn’t do it for me. I would hands down rather have a 488 spider over one.

[Crudeoink]

Lincsls1 said:

The blue 488 Spider is stunning. That's my choice.

I think i'd rather a 458 over a 488.
Other than the 458, id look at GT3RS, Merc SLS
Or the really crazy choice, Ultima RS http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024101451...

Edited by Crudeoink on Tuesday 15th October 21:15

[AmitG]

Left field choice: Honda NSX (the later one) and a slush fund to keep it on the road. Something like this.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410044...

Unlike the R8, you are unlikely to ever see another one on the road, or indeed off the road.

I am told (but cannot prove) that running costs are very reasonable compared to other exotica.

[Evanivitch]

Hear me out, the R8 is lovely but doesn't always have presence... If you have a Ferrari/Lamborghini itch then scratch it, but maybe others to consider.

Alfa Romeo 4C
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403278...

BMW i8
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311023...

Lotus Emira
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409134...

[Panamax]

AB said:

My current 'fun' car is a 2016 911 Turbo S Cab, but I want to change and I want something a little bit more exciting and 'wow'.

It's gotta be a Lambo. In yellow.

[Cambs_Stuart]

Buy 10 swift sports and start a race series.

[samoht]

Just on the McLaren - I bought a 570GT 18 months ago. The A/C stopped working this summer, apart from that it's been fine and I've done about 10k miles in it, never not been ready to go, I've done a couple of Continental road trips in it. I think cars towards the end of a model's production run like that '22 plate tend to be better built and more reliable than earlier cars, but there remains an element of luck I think. They're generally quite useable daily cars, as long as you have suitable parking at the destination - comfortable, luggage space, not ridiculously thirsty. I don't think they sound great and it's 'just' a 4.0 V8, but the steering, driving position, performance and many of the colour choices count as 'wow' for me. Carbon tub so better rigidity in an open car. I think McLaren Manchester would be your nearest dealer, not aware of any specialists that way - McManc have 'mixed reviews' I think it's fair to say - IMHO a good servicing dealer is the biggest factor in ownership satisfaction with all cars like this.

[blueg33]

That blue 488 spider is beautiful. Nothing else here would get a second look from me if I had £150k